Why bother?

[Lanny]

I don't really know anything about nursing or rehabilitation so it's hard for me to say. I don't think it's fair to judge if a discipline needs higher education without knowing at least something about it. I could imagine for nursing you need a pretty good handle on human physiology right? I mean I remember just the crappy biology 101 class everyone has to take was miles more advanced than anything I had in high school.

I'm also not sold on the "less informative" claim. I mean in your field relativistic physics wasn't even a thing a century ago but now it's considered a staple of the undergraduate physics education. It seems like, if anything, the density of the material being taught at the undergraduate level is increasing.

[RisiR]

I've worked at a hospital before. Nursing is tough shit. Their level of knowledge is often on par with that of the doctors.

It's not just changing diapers.

[Ninja]

I'm not sure if any of you are aware, but going to college at this point is a waste of time, money and effort.  There are no jobs available unless you're illegal.

[RustyShackleford]

The good thing about a small school is I don't have to purchase the code for the online bullshit. One book I purchased online access for and could only access through this shitty web app. 1/100 the glory of pdf file. The application for doing the hw online always sucks and is barely functional. Even if like me you don't need the online stuff you still need the book for the hw questions and for class. In many classes it would negatively impact your grade not to have the book handy. Though when we go over the book its fun to see who pulls out paper and who pulls out a computer. Never had a prof call me out, might happen this semester since I'm in a mostly freshman class who are all chumps. Fuck most of the people in my IT classes are too stupid to search "filetype:pdf" or use a torrent program.

College these days is more expensive, less informative, and more necessary. Which is complete and utter bullshit. Getting your bachelor's is treated pretty much the same as a high school diploma. Fuck it, you might as well call the first four years 'second high school'

It isn't "second high school" its fucking baby sitting. Nursing? rehabilitation? Try womens and gender studies, marketing, business, advertising, communications, graphic design, sociology (plus all the sociology offshoots public health and shit), psychology, etc. These people are either going to become unemployed, underemployed, or at best 'empowered' wives. God fucking damnit. It pisses me off, but there aint no putting out a tire fire.

[Σ]

I've worked at a hospital before. Nursing is tough shit. Their level of knowledge is often on par with that of the doctors.

It's not just changing diapers.

I don't know what hospital you are talking about but as far as I have seen nurses don't do jack shit. I went to the ER twice in the past two weeks and had to wait 5 hours for stitches when the nurse told me she needed a doctor to do it. The second time I needed some blood tests because of potential pathogen exposure. All the nurse did was tell me what the doctor was doing and that he would get to me "soon". Neither nurse seemed capable of anything without the doc around.

[RisiR]

Well, German hospitals.... I guess you are American?

[equanimity]

I've worked at a hospital before. Nursing is tough shit. Their level of knowledge is often on par with that of the doctors.

It's not just changing diapers.

I don't know what hospital you are talking about but as far as I have seen nurses don't do jack shit. I went to the ER twice in the past two weeks and had to wait 5 hours for stitches when the nurse told me she needed a doctor to do it. The second time I needed some blood tests because of potential pathogen exposure. All the nurse did was tell me what the doctor was doing and that he would get to me "soon". Neither nurse seemed capable of anything without the doc around.

Each medical professional cannot is not allowed to work outside of their scope of practice without risking their certifications.  The way jobs are delegated is sometimes confusing, but it's mandated by law and in many cases company policy.  In a hospital especially you'll see jobs a nurse is legally able to perform (blood draws, for example) passed on to other people.  Hospitals are all about efficiency, and nurses are hardcore busy as it is.

4 years of nursing school is nothing to scoff at.  Don't think because they're not doing certain things or talking to you about your medical issues because they don't know what's going on or what to do in an emergency.  What you're seeing is actually professionalism

[Σ]

I would argue the professionalism i see is getting in the way of efficiency.  It would be easier, cheaper and quicker to simply stitch myself back together next time which is exactly what I intend to do. The problem is not that they cant do it because its not their area the problem is they don't have someone around to do minor procedures like stitches which in reality could take less than 30 mins if you are prepared to do it.

But this is getting off topic.

[equanimity]

I would argue the professionalism i see is getting in the way of efficiency.  It would be easier, cheaper and quicker to simply stitch myself back together next time which is exactly what I intend to do. The problem is not that they cant do it because its not their area the problem is they don't have someone around to do minor procedures like stitches which in reality could take less than 30 mins if you are prepared to do it.

But this is getting off topic.

http://work.chron.com/rn-law-suturing-21023.html

"Each state sets its own laws on what registered nurses -- or RNs -- can and cannot do. These laws determine the scope of nursing practice within the state. Because suturing is considered a minor surgical procedure, it doesn't fall within the general scope of nursing duties unless your state specifically allows it. States more often allow advanced practice nurses to suture than RNs without an advanced practice degree."

[MoaningLisa]

I am going to a technical school for a 2 year degree in the petroleum industry.

I'm in my first semester, and I already have job offers and contacts.

make 100% absolutely sure before you go in that you are at the right school with the right major...if a job requires "a 4 year degree" and does not specify major, go find something that does specify your major.

go be a welder. that's a fast way to get $35/hr. shit, I was making $16.50/hr doing mobile mechanic work, no formal education, $500 in tools and my car. after a $200 class you can be a forklift operator and make $14.50 pretty much anywhere...class C drivers can make 51k/year, class A drivers can make WAY more.

my school offers health and dental courses, the nurses are doing great and so are the dental assistants. I don't know what its like to get a degree in that, probably pretty serious, but they have no problems with work or pay.

the plastics engineering kids are doing well

computer engineering is doing well

culinary arts are happy

automotive technology are happy with $16/hr

auto restoration is happy modifying '70 Chevelle's and '29 Bentley 8-liters all day...honestly, these kids are the real winners. I'd LOVE that job, even for pennies a day.

[Lanny]

Picking a career based on how much it pays sounds like a pretty good way to end up hating your job.